Poland's FM wants Polish taught in Irish schools

Poland's Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski has said he will discuss the possibility of introducing Polish into Irish schools during a meeting with Ireland's education minister on Thursday.

Außenminister Witold WaszczykowskiFoto: PAP/Paweł Supernak

"The tens of thousands of Poles living here in Ireland deserve to have their children, if they wish it, also educated in the Polish language; I will strive for that," said Waszczykowski during a meeting on Wednesday with the Polish community in Dublin.

He also announced that Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny will visit Poland in February.

Waszczykowski started a two-day official visit to Ireland on Wednesday.

During his meeting with the Polish community, Waszczykowski also said he hoped that more Polish expatriates will return to their home country, stressing that the government is making efforts to attract them back.

"That is not to say, however, that we would accept it if you were expelled from the UK," he said, referring to concerns about growing xenophobic sentiments after the Brexit referendum.

On Thursday Waszczykowski will meet his Irish counterpart Charles Flanagan to discuss matters involving Poles living in Ireland, the future of the European Union after Britain’s decision to leave the bloc and the migration crisis. (mol/pk)